Albion

Gus hails "fantastic" development

Gus Poyet has hailed Albion’s ground-breaking move into under-21 football as “fantastic” news.

The Seagulls will be playing in a new development league next season rather than entering a reserve team in the Football Combination.

They will tackle home and away fixtures against clubs of a similar size, some of which will be staged at first team stadia.

Development coach Luke Williams will take charge of side which must be predominantly made up of under-21 players.

Each team can feature three over-age outfield players and there is no restriction on the age of the goalkeeper.

Albion have secured their place in the league as a prospective Category Two Academy as they plan the move to their new training base.

The new league is part of a massive shake-up of youth football under the umbrella of the Elite Player Performance Plan, driven by Premier League clubs.

Albion’s second string matches, often against lower division clubs, have lacked intensity in recent seasons but first team boss Poyet said: “This will be much better for us. It will be fantastic.”

A fixture format was still being finalised this week but Williams’ team will take on other Category Two set-ups from the south of the country, possibly including Premier League clubs QPR and
Swansea.

Matches are likely to be played at the weekend.

Williams said: “I think this is the only way forward. Teams will be well matched, there will be matches week in and week out and we will play on good pitches “It’s the way to learn and I believe in
the medium to long term there will be a big benefit for the first team.”

Albion’s development squad go to Nicky Forster’s Dover Athletic for a friendly on Saturday although one or two will be involved in the first team
run out at Maidstone.

The youngsters also have friendlies at Eastbourne United on Wednesday, July 25, Lancing on Saturday, July 28, and Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, August 4.

Comments (15)

DEFINITELY a good move. Proper pitches, proper opposition and regularity are indeed the way forward. Last season's schedule was nothing short of a joke and the club were clearly as frustrated with it as the players must have been.

We need our development squad playing regularly for both their education but also to have them match fit and match sharp if and when called upon by Gus for the first team.

To come up against PL development teams will. E very beneficial.

DEFINITELY a good move. Proper pitches, proper opposition and regularity are indeed the way forward. Last season's schedule was nothing short of a joke and the club were clearly as frustrated with it as the players must have been.
We need our development squad playing regularly for both their education but also to have them match fit and match sharp if and when called upon by Gus for the first team.
To come up against PL development teams will. E very beneficial.Captain Haddock

Brighton have opened talks with Arsenal over a loan move for defender Ignasi Miquel.

The Spanish Under-19 centre-back is highly rated at the Emirates, having made nine first-team appearances last season, including four in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.

Miquel also played every minute of Arsenal's Carling Cup campaign, but his route to more regular first-team football is blocked by Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Johan Djourou, while the exciting Kyle Bartley has returned to north London following two years spent on-loan at Rangers.

Arsenal are now ready to ship Miquel out on loan in a bid to gain more experience, and Brighton boss Gus Poyet is keen to seal a move in the next few weeks.

Brighton are willing to promise Miquel regular first-team football, while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is happy to sanction the move, as he trusts former Tottenham star Poyet with the player's development.

Miquel, who came through the Barcelona academy before being released, is also wanted back in Spain, with Barca B ready to lodge a £300,000 bid to try to take the 19-year-old back to his first club.

As reported today at "Talk Sport" and BBC Sport Gossip:
Brighton have opened talks with Arsenal over a loan move for defender Ignasi Miquel.
The Spanish Under-19 centre-back is highly rated at the Emirates, having made nine first-team appearances last season, including four in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.
Miquel also played every minute of Arsenal's Carling Cup campaign, but his route to more regular first-team football is blocked by Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Johan Djourou, while the exciting Kyle Bartley has returned to north London following two years spent on-loan at Rangers.
Arsenal are now ready to ship Miquel out on loan in a bid to gain more experience, and Brighton boss Gus Poyet is keen to seal a move in the next few weeks.
Brighton are willing to promise Miquel regular first-team football, while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is happy to sanction the move, as he trusts former Tottenham star Poyet with the player's development.
Miquel, who came through the Barcelona academy before being released, is also wanted back in Spain, with Barca B ready to lodge a £300,000 bid to try to take the 19-year-old back to his first club.PressBoxTeaBoy

I had to laugh at the old fashioned trend to field 3 "over age" players plus a 90 year old goalkeeper....and don't give me that old garbage of the 21 y/olds learning from experience. Its just an opportunity to extend the career of over the hill players at a lower level and deny 3 or 4 more 21 year olds the valuable opportunity to step up and get MATCH experience........

I had to laugh at the old fashioned trend to field 3 "over age" players plus a 90 year old goalkeeper....and don't give me that old garbage of the 21 y/olds learning from experience. Its just an opportunity to extend the career of over the hill players at a lower level and deny 3 or 4 more 21 year olds the valuable opportunity to step up and get MATCH experience........bentnup

Brighton have opened talks with Arsenal over a loan move for defender Ignasi Miquel.

The Spanish Under-19 centre-back is highly rated at the Emirates, having made nine first-team appearances last season, including four in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.

Miquel also played every minute of Arsenal's Carling Cup campaign, but his route to more regular first-team football is blocked by Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Johan Djourou, while the exciting Kyle Bartley has returned to north London following two years spent on-loan at Rangers.

Arsenal are now ready to ship Miquel out on loan in a bid to gain more experience, and Brighton boss Gus Poyet is keen to seal a move in the next few weeks.

Brighton are willing to promise Miquel regular first-team football, while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is happy to sanction the move, as he trusts former Tottenham star Poyet with the player's development.

Miquel, who came through the Barcelona academy before being released, is also wanted back in Spain, with Barca B ready to lodge a £300,000 bid to try to take the 19-year-old back to his first club.

Talk Sport

Arsenal starlet wanted by Brighton and Barcelona

Nice thought for the day

[quote][p][bold]PressBoxTeaBoy[/bold] wrote:
As reported today at "Talk Sport" and BBC Sport Gossip:
Brighton have opened talks with Arsenal over a loan move for defender Ignasi Miquel.
The Spanish Under-19 centre-back is highly rated at the Emirates, having made nine first-team appearances last season, including four in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.
Miquel also played every minute of Arsenal's Carling Cup campaign, but his route to more regular first-team football is blocked by Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Johan Djourou, while the exciting Kyle Bartley has returned to north London following two years spent on-loan at Rangers.
Arsenal are now ready to ship Miquel out on loan in a bid to gain more experience, and Brighton boss Gus Poyet is keen to seal a move in the next few weeks.
Brighton are willing to promise Miquel regular first-team football, while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is happy to sanction the move, as he trusts former Tottenham star Poyet with the player's development.
Miquel, who came through the Barcelona academy before being released, is also wanted back in Spain, with Barca B ready to lodge a £300,000 bid to try to take the 19-year-old back to his first club.[/p][/quote]Talk Sport
Arsenal starlet wanted by Brighton and Barcelona
Nice thought for the dayhannover seagull